This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Grand Balloon Ascension and Fairtime Progress at Monticello
The late 1880s grand balloon ascensions introduced at the Jones County fair drew crowds and featured the aeronauts The fairs expanded with improvements including artesian water piping and a new Floral hall whitewash The 1889 fair saw mass picnics and a large horse show while concessions such as Candy Bills stand and a famed dwarf Major Noble Winner drew crowds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Floral Hall
National Association
E. V. Miller
Viroqua
Ezekiel Moore
Cascade
John L. Clark
Montice
Wales
Monticello
Leech
Candy Bill
Anamosa
Cecil R. Farmer
Candy Billy
Major Noble
Manly Allen
H. M. Carpenter
Jones County
Fayette
Brush Creek
Strawberry Point
Edgewood
Greeley
Delaware
Delhi
Hopkinton
Oxford Junction
Cedar Rapids
Farley
Sherman
Edison
Robert Rynerson
Kansas
Dubuque
C. E. Wales
Julien
Ladies Cornet Band of
Union Driving Park Association
Fair Association
Lenox College
Old Settlers’ Association
W.C.T.U
T. A. King
George Lathrop
William Stahler
P. Smith
Alex Sutherland
Scotch Grove
Iowa National Guard
Fairgrounds
Iowa State College
Ames
Young's
Oklahoma
Camp Vic
Springer
Jackson
Fair Grounds